Reindel Owen E. Salvador, a third year BA Sociology student, and 33 other youth leaders from all over the country, made their voices heard at the recent interreligious workshop “yPeace: Youth in Action for Interfaith Dialogue.”

Initiated by the US Embassy and facilitated by the Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation Inc., yPeace gathered 34 participants, some from as far as Tawi-Tawi, who, aside from representing schools and peace-related organizations, also served as spokespersons for their respective faiths: Catholic, Protestant, Born-Again, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Islam, as well as indigenous beliefs.  Participants were chosen based on their personal essays which were evaluated by the US Embassy. 

Held Aug. 30-31, the two-day intensive workshop was at the posh Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila. In group discussions and creative presentations, participants related personal stories on conflicts in their respective communities, and their hopes for better interreligious coexistence in the country.

To concretize their aspirations, participants were asked to formulate action plans—proposals for achievable goals they could implement in their communities.

In the spirit of interfaith peace, each session started with an ecumenical prayer. An Iftar dinner (a religious observance during Ramadan where a community gathers to break the fast together) served as the workshop’s closing ceremony.

“The experience was so enthralling. I had a chance to mingle with people from different walks of life, of diverse cultures, beliefs and language,” says Salvador, who hails from Piddig, Ilocos Norte.  “Most importantly, what matters is the friendship built and memories I shared that I have taken home with me.”

Ypeace is just one of the US Embassy’s efforts to encourage the youth to be more proactive in different social issues. Past activities included concerts, summer camps and basketball clinics all over the country. The embassy also offers the youth study abroad programs.

Salvador, a Catholic, is vice president of the MMSU Central Student Council. He is a member of the award-winning SIFE team of the university. Last February, he won as Best Public Speaker in the Ilocos Norte Debate Cup.